Three Plants That Could Replace Opioids in Pain Treatment

Three Plants That Could Replace Opioids in Pain Treatment

Opium. Heroin. Morphine. Methadone. Oxycodone. Hydrocodone. What all of these have in common is they’re derived from a plant—the poppy plant. Written references to the use of this plant, native to Southeast Asia, for pain and other ailments date back to 3400 B.C.

In more recent times, opium and even heroin were commonly used in pharmaceutical preparations for pain relief until the early 1900s. Concern about their addictive potential led the U.S. Congress to eventually ban these substances in pharmaceutical preparations.

That didn’t stop the pharmaceutical companies from searching for ways to find patentable substances derived from the poppy plant to meet a real need: relief from suffering for those in pain. In 1916, Oxycodone, a synthetic drug derived from the poppy plant, was developed and was approved for use in the U.S. in 1939. Hydrocodone, also derived from the poppy plant, was synthesized in 1920 and approved for use in the United States in 1943. These synthetic derivatives became known as opioids.

Recent history of opioids

For decades, physicians were very cautious about prescribing pharmaceuticals containing oxycodone and hydrocodone because they were known to be addictive. But for the pharmaceutical companies, the marketing incentives were great. Tens of millions of patients were in chronic pain and if they could peddle these drugs to those long term sufferers, a lot of money could be made.

Purdue Pharma developed a long-acting version of oxycodone, which they named OxyContin, and in 1996 began aggressively marketing the drug to physicians. Although they knew from their clinical trials that OxyContin was very addictive, they lied and assured physicians that even with long term use, addiction to the drug was extremely rare. Their marketing campaign emphasized that pain was vastly undertreated, and that the answer was their powerful painkiller. Other pharmaceutical companies followed suit and soon many doctors were liberally prescribing opioids to every pain patient who appeared in their offices. Opioids became blockbuster drugs.

In 2007, the FDA fined Purdue Pharma $634 million for criminal consumer fraud for knowingly lying about the addictive potential of OxyContin. But the damage was already done. Millions were addicted to opioids and tens of thousands had already died of overdoses.

The fines and the negative press didn’t stop the pharmaceutical companies from looking for other ways to profit from these powerful, addictive drugs. Recently, in a scathing investigative report, TV new magazine 60 Minutes revealed that the pharmaceutical companies and their distributers have been knowingly supplying pill mills, who sell drugs to nonmedical users, with vast amounts of opioids and that they used their political influence to get Congress to block the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from prosecuting them.

The problems with opioids have contiued to worsen while many patients get inadequate relief

Today there are 100 million Americans in chronic pain, more than ever before. The number of addicts and overdose deaths continues to escalate. Despite this, many doctors and patients insist these opioids are needed because, due to decades of aggressive marketing, they believe they are the most powerful weapon we have against devastating pain. But the truth is that about 50% of pain patients find they cannot tolerate the side effects of the opioids or don’t find them effective and those who continue to use them get only an average of 39% pain relief.

What has been lost in this discussion is that opioids are derived from a plant and that there are other plants with similar properties that are safer and possibly even more effective than the poppy plant. Here are just three:

Cannabis (Marijuana)

Kratom

Wild Lettuce

Marijuana (Cannabis)

It’s no surprise to many people that marijuana is a plant that has medicinal properties, including the ability to relieve pain. References to using marijuana as an analgesic date back to 2700 BC. Marijuana grows wild everywhere in the world except in the coldest climates. It was commonly used for medicinal purposes in the United States and was in many pharmaceutical products until 1941, when it was banned against the advice of the American Medical Association. The ban was the result of the combined efforts of anti-drug crusader Henry Anslinger and the Rockefeller family, who’s industrial and chemical interests were threatened by the competition from hemp.

The federal government subsequently classified cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug, a drug with high abuse potential and no known medical use. This has made it very difficult for researchers to obtain the plant or get permission to study it.

Despite the barriers to research and the continuing controversies around it, one thing is perfectly clear: in the thousands of years that marijuana has been used, there has not been even one overdose death from marijuana ever reported.

The science of marijuana is now known, too. Marijuana is the only known plant that contains compounds called cannabinoids. The human body manufactures these same compounds, called endocannabinoids when manufactured internally. These compounds are used by the body to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and restore the body to a balanced state after stress or injury. When marijuana is introduced into the body through inhalation, ingestion or other means, its natural compounds bind easily to cell receptors, creating few side effects and facilitating healing on many levels.

The average amount of pain relief reported by pain patients who use medical marijuana is 64% according to some studies. Marijuana in not considered physically addictive because withdrawal symptoms after chronic use are minimal. Marijuana can also reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms, and prevent development of tolerance in opioid users. Some people find the psychological effects of marijuana compelling and have difficulty stopping use for that reason.

Marijuana is currently legal in 29 U.S. states and the District of Columbia for patients with qualifying medical conditions who are certified by a medical provider. It remains illegal at the federal level.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciose)

Kratom is an herb that grows in Southeast Asia. While far less well known than Cannabis, and far less researched, kratom appears to have similar effects. A literature review published in Frontiers in Psychiatry in April 2017 reported that kratom has the following beneficial effects: analgesic (pain relieving), helps with opiate withdrawal, lowers blood pressure, is antidiabetic and antidiarrheal, and enhances immunity and tissue repair. It also appears to help with weight loss.

The same literature review cites a handful of case reports of deaths associated with kratom, but in every case there was the presence of other drugs that could have been the cause. Animal studies, primarily in rats, showed some serious adverse effects, but these studies were at ridiculously high doses of 100 to 1000 mg per kilogram (2.2 pounds). Equivalent doses would not be consumed by humans.

Small doses of kratom appear to have stimulant effects, with larger doses having sedating effects. This is similar to CBD, an extract of cannabis.

Like cannabis, kratom has different strains, generally classified into red, green and white veins. Red veins are calming and work better for pain and sedation. Green veins are a little more stimulating than reds and also tend to last the longest. White veins are the most stimulating and are good for energy boost and mood elevation. Some kratom users use different strains at different times of the day, using more stimulating strains in the morning and more calming strains at night.

In late 2016, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) tried to schedule Kratom as a Schedule 1 drug(a drug with high abuse potential and no known medical benefits), citing the above noted fatalities as the reason. Public outcry was significant, and the DEA backed off its decision.

Wild lettuce, like cannabis, grows wild in many parts of world, including parts of Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. It was widely used in the U.S. in the 19th century as an opium substitute. Wild lettuce contains two active compounds, lactucopicrin and lactucin, which bind to opioid receptors and produce pain relief. These compounds are used by drug manufacturers to produce medications to treat asthma, urinary tract disorders, painful menstruation and joint pain.

Wild lettuce has been reported to provide relief from migraine and tension headaches, menstrual cramps and joint and muscle pain. Wild lettuce also has sedative and anti-anxiety effects.

Wild lettuce appears to be safe for most people in small amounts. Wild lettuce may cause an allergic reaction in people who have allergies to ragweed and related plants. If you have narrow angle glaucoma, it is advised to avoid wild lettuce because it contains a chemical that could worsen this condition.

Wild lettuce can be taken as extract or as an herbal supplement. It’s unregulated by the FDA and legal everywhere.

The poppy plant and its pharmaceutical derivatives do not have a monopoly on pain relief, despite marketing efforts to convince us otherwise. Other plants are safer and have equal or better pain relief effects.

For inspirational stories of people who have healed intransigent pain, click HERE.

Cindy Perlin is a chronic pain expert, licensed clinical social worker, certified biofeedback practitioner and chronic pain survivor. She is the author of The Truth About Chronic Pain Treatments: The Best and Worst Strategies for Becoming Pain Free and the creator of the Alternative Pain Treatment Directory. She has been in private practice in the Albany, NY area, where she has been helping her clients achieve their health and wellness goals for over 25 years. See her provider listing HERE. You can also schedule a phone consult with Cindy HERE.

Very good article, i use kratom ever day but not for pain, just a healthy supplement, my blood pressure is spot on, my cholesterol is almost perfect, and it helps me maintain a great weight for my size, i love feeling so great daily, better than when i was 40 years old, now I’m 61 y/o and damm near perfect health

I suffer from multiple sclerosis and strongly AGREE.. I am a huge advocate of all three of these alternatives as I have personal experience on their benefits. I currently seek this be offered an paid for by insurance instead of deadly opiods but kratom, and marijuana are so expensive that your consistently suffering bc nobody wants to listen to their patient in the medical community if ypu currently admit these things actually help you… YES I’m outraged seeing as to my oldest son is a recovering opiod addict!!!!

Kratom is actually saving a lot of lives, plus many other awesome advantages associated with this plant, therefore, it should be left alone as we should have the liberty to choose a safe plant over pills just as people have the liberty to smoke deadly cigarettes which is actually not saving lives and it’s legal.

Sadly, Kratom and marijuana is illegal in my state. I can’t even have it shipped here. I’ve looked into Wild Lettuce and drank the tea but didn’t relieve my pain at all. Soon theGovernment will make all these things illegal and we will really not have anything for pain relief. As we all know, over-the-counter pain reliever’s do not work and I have a high rate of liver damage. And our Attorney General said that we should just take an aspirin. That shows just how uneducated they really are about chronic pain.

CBD oil is often very helpful, as is supplementation with Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D, magnesiusm, tumeric and homeopathic remedies such as arnica and hypericum. Increasing phytonutrients in the diet through ingestion of more fruits and vegetables, as well as avoiding aspartame, MSG and processed foods can be very helpful. Exercise can be helpful, as can mind/body approaches such as relaxation training, cogntivie behavioral therapy, biofeedback, neurofeedback, visualization, hypnosis and rapid trauma resolution techniques. Hands on therapies including physical therapy, massage and acupuncture can help a lot. Low level laser therapy, pulsed electromagnetic therapy and much more can reduce pain. Check them all out on this website or read my book, The Truth About Chronic Pain Treatments: The Best and Worst Strategies for Becoming Pain Free for more information.

I have suffered chronic pain for over three decades. I work in the medical field and am so disgusted with modern healthcare and Western medicine both as a medical provider and as a patient. I believe there is a need for combined care, modern Western Medicine and holistic medicine. I also believe in the mind and body connection. I would love to follow and learn more on your topics. Most of all I would like to rid my own pain and suffering and that of so many I know. I believe healthcare and medicine in combination with pharmaceutical companies needs major reform!!!

I’m so sorry!! That’s so unfortunate – can you move to another state? Come to California!! Or Washington state! Or – well, there are lots of states where these things are legal. I’m so sorry to hear this.

I have suffered with pain for 26 years. My lower back was operated on in 1993. Doctor only gave me 50/50 chance of better. It was worse. Pains after going into both heels. Needles and pins. I’ve always had pain. Can’t find any relief. HELP ME, PLEASE

Wild lettuce grows in most of the U.S. I have it in my back yard. Some people eat.the leaves when they are young. The process for extracting the liquid seems to be time consuming. I have fibromyalgia and osteo arthritis, migraines, IBS. I am weaning off the hydrocodone as I have taken it for years and it no longer seems to be helping my pain. My doctor told me if I needed something stronger for pain, I would have to go to a pain clinic. I’ve just decided that enough is enough. Time to try something else!

I could write a book. Worked in medical field 15 yrs. 65 now but first trauma at 4 yrs old n more followed. Mainly car accidents. Chronic pain all my life. Smoked marijuana at 14 on n off till present. Prescribed opiates since mid 90s till present. Haha, they want to tell me what works, what has side effects, what’s Addicting, what’s not. No one knows better than those in pain n with experience. Promise.